kick us when we're down

Proving once again that while the congress cannot decide whether or not everyone should have access to heath care or if gay people are as big a threat to our nation as terrorists, fucking over small farmers is something everyone can agree on. S. 510 The Food Safety Modernization Act will hit the senate floor shortly and is expected to pass with bipartisan support. Obama, in his effort to turn the country socialist, is expected to sign it without incident.

This is a bill that will make it virtually illegal for small farmers to sell to stores, create expensive licensing requirements and complex time consuming paperwork. It also makes it more difficult to have a diversified (farms that grow crops and raise animals) farm because of the germs in poop. The purpose of this bill is (as the name says) to make the national food system safer, but really, it is only making it harder for small farmers to compete with enormous agribusiness facilities.

Here are two good breakdowns of the bill's problems.
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2010/03/libertarian-farmers-push-back-against-s510/
http://www.westonaprice.org/Urgent-Action-Alert-on-Senate-Food-Safety-Bill.html

I would encourage concerned groups to write to the FDA (a link to the FDA below) (it is probably too late to contact your senators, but you can do that too). Tell them that"

1) Small Farms (grossing less than 750,000) should not be required to become GAP (good agricultural practices) certified, because the high costs and time commitment could put them out of business.

2) Small farms are not high risk operations

3) Small farms who sell food to restaurants and wholesale and directly to consumers should not be considered a food facility

4) Small farms are careful stewards of the land

Write the FDA by May 24, 2010

1. Go to www.Regulations.gov
2. Under "keyword or ID" enter FDA-2010-N-0085-0001
3. At bottom, in the far right of the screen under Actions, click on "Submit a Comment."
4. Fill out the requested information and type your comment into the field provided.
5. Press "Submit"

But don't worry, my fellow Americans, whether the bill passes or not, you will still have access to your government approved GMO corn Doritos and farm bill subsidized twinkies.